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When Dr Barnardo set up his first home for orphans Jim Jarvis was its first occupant. Not very much is known about Jim but the following facts have been ascertained. He ran away from a workhouse after his mother died, he was helped by a woman who sold shrimps and whelks, he lived for a time on a coal lighter with a man and a dog and was treated very cruelly, he ran away from them and lived on the streets and slept on the rooftops until he went to Dr Barnardo.
Berlie Docherty has taken these bare facts, used her imagination and fleshed them out into a story. She has given Jim a family and describes the death of his mother in detail. The horrors of the workhouse are starkly portrayed. The woman who sold shrimps and helped Jim has been given an identity. She is Rosie who used to work in a big house but lost her place because she tried to help Jim's mother. Now she has come down in the world and is afraid of her grandfather who bullies her, but, nevertheless, she still tries to help Jim. Likewise the man on the coal lighter is also brought to life. He is Grimy Nick, cruel and brutal with a fierce dog Snipe.
This book brings home the plight of destitute children in nineteenth century London. The only place they could go for help was the workhouse -- and they were afraid to go there. Many like Shrimp, were prepared to die rather than endure its horrors.
Perhaps even worse was the fact that the wealthy people did not care about any of this - or did not even know. Dr Barnardo had no idea until Jim took him up to the rooftops and showed him "the boys, curled up in their rags of clothes, sleeping like dogs."
A fictionalised and imaginative reconstruction of the circumstances which led up to the founding of Dr Barnardo's Homes. Poignant and thought provoking.
Comes with a historical note.
10+
This book is about 10,000 words long. It is for children of seven to eleven.
London 1873. Albert Browne, the son of a wealthy banker, is watching, horrified while a chimney sweep rubs brine on the bleeding knees of his new climbing boy, Vic. Alfred is sure that if they were there his parents would not allow this cruelty. But they are away and Albert is in the care of the butler, Jackson.
After the chimneys are swept and the sweep and his climbing boy are on their way Jackson discovers that Mrs Browne's jewel box is missing. It must have been stolen by the sweep or the boy.
Albert and Jackson chase after them. When they catch up with them the sweep tries to put the blame on Vic who runs off into the fog. He heads for the Thames and squeezes through a small hole at the bottom of a fence. Jackson and the sweep are too big to follow but Albert wriggles through the hole and continues the chase. Vic gets away but Albert is attacked by two mudlarks who leave him lying trapped in the mud. Vic comes back, gets a plank and manages to rescue Albert from the mud. Vic then takes him to an old coal barge where he can spend the night.
Then events take a surprising turn. Albert discovers that Vic is not a climbing boy. She is a climbing girl and her full name is Victoria Wells. Albert has twisted his ankle and he is coughing badly. He is really ill. Victoria goes to get help but she is caught by a constable and thrown into Newgate. Meanwhile Albert manages to pull himself out of the barge. He limps through the London streets and, by a lucky chance, finds himself outside one of Dr Barnardo's homes.
All is resolved in the end. The real thief is caught and Victoria proved innocent.
This is a good story which moves at a fast pace. The main facts about child sweeps are brought out. The sweep in the story was imprisoned because in 1873 it was against the law to use children as sweeps. (A note at the end mentions Lord Shaftesbury's Act of 1875 which finally ended the scandal of the climbing boys -- and girls). The story also highlights the work of Dr Barnardo and the help he got from the bankers -- like Mr Browne in the story.
An exciting story with a well researched background. There is also a historical note and a list of places to visit. And even a miniature historical detective story thrown in for good measure. What more can anyone ask?
One of the Treetops series. For children of eight and over.
Tess is twelve years old. It is her first day as a housemaid in the house of Dr Gooch. She is having a glass of milk in the kitchen with the kindly housekeeper Mrs Hutton when the cruel chimney sweep, Mr Fry, arrives with his new apprentice Will. Later Will falls down the chimney and knocks himself out and ends up in the bedroom of Harriet, Dr Gooch's little daughter. Mrs Hutton explains to Harriet just how badly Will is treated and Harriet agrees that he should not be handed over to Mr Fry just yet. She goes further. She says that he should be set free. How she does that with the help of Tess makes an exciting story.
Although simply told for young readers this book contains a lot of information about the houses of wealthy Victorians as well as exposing the shameful conditions of the little climbing boys.
We are given details of climbing up the inside of chimneys and how Mr Fry put vinegar on Will's knees and elbows and stood him in front of the fire to harden the skin so that he could grip on the chimneys.
This is a good introduction to historical novels for the very young.